Improvement in iron fence-posts



W. T. MoNEILL & G. A. LAMBERT.

Iron Fence-Post.

I No. 196,816. PatentedNov, 6,1877.

INVENTEI 5.

Wrmcsss's; 5.4M- %%/4 UNITED STATES PATENT Orrronf WILLIAM T. MONEILL AND GEORGE A. LAMBERT, OF WORCESTER, MASS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,816, dated November 6, 1877 application filed August 2, 1877.

tion of our said invention, sufficiently full,-

clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a rear view of our improved sheet-metal fence-post, showing portions of the fencing-wires attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 rep resents, on a larger scale, a horizontal section at line as w,'illustrating the post as formed from three sheets of metal. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view, illustrating the post as made from two sheets of metal. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view, showing the manner of attaching the fencing-wires to' the posts.

The object of our invention is to provide a cheap, strong, and durable fence-post, especially adapted for the support of wire fencing; andthe nature of our invention consists in a sheet-metal fence-post constructed and arranged as hereinafter described, and in the manner of attaching the fencing-wires, as set forth.

In the drawings, A denotes the post. B indicates the earth in which the post is set. C

indicates the fence-connecting loops, and D the fencing-wires.

Our improved post A is formed from thin plates of sheet metal a a a preferably tapered toward their upper ends. The side plates at a have their edges turned outward to form flanges I; b, which flanges are placed against the faceplate a, and the edges 0 c of the piece a are folded over and locked down upon said flanges b 12, thus securely retaining the parts together.

The rear edges of the side plates a a are secured together by a similar joint, one plate, a, being flanged at d, and the other plate, a, being folded over it, as at d.

If preferred, the side plates at a can be made in a single piece, as indicated in Fig. 4, the rear angle being formed by aroll, corrugation, or bead, f,- also, if desired, the joints at the angles may have a double look, as at E, or be rolled together, as at F.

The folded or rolled edges form stiff ribs 1 along the angles of the post, extending from the top to the bottom thereof, thus rendering the parts very strong and rigid, while the triangular form and upward taper alsoaid in imparting strength and stiffness, so that posts of the requisite strength can be manufactured from comparatively very thin sheets of metal, as No. 24 or 26 iron.

The fencing-wires D are strained parallel with the face-plate a, and are secured to the post at two positions by wire staples or loops 0, which embrace thewires D, passthrough openings in the side ribs I, and have their ends twisted together at the rear of the ribs, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5.

The Wires D, being drawn across the flat face of the post and secured at two points, are not liable to loosen the fastening by the shaking of the wires by the wind, while the posts are held from twisting by action of frost or otherwise.

The plates at a a are preferably made straight, but, if desired, can be curved, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

The post, being made hollow and open at the lower end, can be driven into the earth 13 without the necessity of digging post-holes, except perhaps in very hard or stony places.

The plates at the top of the post may be closed together or capped, and the entire post tinned or galvanized after it is formed, to protect the plates and joints from the action of the weather. The galvanizing-or tinning also acts to fasten the joints, making the whole complete as a single piece, so that there can be no twisting of the post or movement of the parts on each other.

Having described our improved fence-post, what we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved fence-post, triangular in shape, formed from one or more thin sheets of metal, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The improved triangular fence-post made plates at a a tapered vertically, and connected at their edges and top, substantially as herein described.

Witness our hands this 24th day of September, A. D. 1877.

WM. T. MQNEILL. GEORGE A. LAMBERT.

Witnesses Gms. H. BURLEIG-H, EDWARD F. Bisoo. 

